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Savannah couple praised in rape arrest

Maj. Richard Zapal presentsTammie Wiruth and her husband, Anthony, right, with letters of recognition on Monday. The Wiruth's assisted in the apprehension of 47-year-old Alfred Colquitt, who was wanted for rape and two counts of aggravated assault. (Katie Martin/Savannah Morning News)

Alfred Hold Colquitt

Savannah-Chatham police on Monday recognized a Savannah couple for their help in catching a man wanted on rape and assault charges after they spotted him outside their Congress Street store, Scents for Cents last Thursday.

Maj. Richard Zapal, on behalf of interim police chief Julie Tolbert, presented Anthony and Tammie Wiruth with letters of recognition for their help in the arrest of Alfred Colquitt.

Along with the rape charge, Colquitt, 47, was wanted in connection with an assault on an elderly woman Aug. 4 at another nearby business on Congress Street. The

couple are friends of the victim, and Tammie Wiruth said she couldn’t rest knowing the suspect was on the streets.

“I didn’t get any sleep after it happened. I contacted a couple of other business owners and notified them about what happened,” Tammie Wiruth said. “Thankfully, due to cameras, we all got pictures of him.”

After Wiruth spotted Colquitt outside her shop, an employee called police while Wiruth talked with police dispatch on her cellphone and followed the suspect to a nearby bank.

“I just sat and watched and waited, and he just happened to walk by and I knew right then and there that it was him,” she said.

Sgt. Mark Gallipeau who was in the area working overtime for the Downtown Residents Entertainment District Tourism Engagement and Response unit or DETER, responded to the call and identified and questioned the suspect who ultimately took off running toward the Lucas Theater on Abercorn Street. With the help of Anthony Wiruth and a man from Akron, Ohio, Colquitt was tackled and held until Gallipeau could arrest him.

“We’ve had a rash of violent crimes in the last month, and we’re always talking about citizens getting involved, and a lot of them don’t want to because they’re scared and a lot of people have that opportunity, but when it presents itself they don’t know what to do and they freeze up, but none of them did,” said Gallipeau. “They jumped right in and helped and as a result this guy was apprehended. They really need to be commended for taking action.”

Zapal said people normally are discouraged from getting involved to the point it’s physical.

“But if you follow them from a block away and you’ve got a cellphone, we’ll tell you don’t get close or to stop but keep your eyes on them as far as you can. It helps us actually lay hands on somebody,” he said.

Colquitt, who is on probation from 2009 for a sex offender registry violation is charged with rape, three counts of aggravated assault, three counts of obstruction and a count of false information. A preliminary hearing has been set for Aug. 28. He remains in the Chatham County jail.